THRILLING 2013 HASTINGS RACING SEASON SEES NEW WINNERS IN THREE KEY CATEGORIES

October 18, 2013

Leading Jockey, Trainer & Owners Will Be Saluted Dec. 5

Vancouver, B.C. (October 18, 2013) – From opening day on April 13 to a spectacular finish on Thanksgiving Monday, October 14, the 2013 thoroughbred season at Hastings Racecourse left fans wanting more in 2014.

Over a 63-day meet that resulted in a new leading rider, new leading trainer and new leading owners, the exciting storylines never seemed to stop.  It actually all began before the season started with the announcement from owner Glen Todd and his North American Thoroughbred Horse Company (NATHC) that world-renowned jockey Aaron Gryder would be its first-call rider at Hastings in 2013.

Gryder didn’t disappoint his Vancouver connections with 45 wins that included a leading eight stakes victories.  He saved his best for last by capturing the Grade 3 $100,000 BC Premiers aboard Commander on closing day for trainer Troy Taylor.

Gryder did take a back saddle, though, in the Leading Jockey standings.  Enrique Gonzalez won the title after an electrifying streak of a dozen first-place finishes over the final four days of the season.  Gonzalez finished with 59 wins and led the jockey colony in earnings with $970,142 from 308 starts. Amadeo Perez, the top rider in 2012, finished second this year with 57 wins.

The combination of Glen Todd and Troy Taylor had been on the podium for six consecutive years as leading owner and top trainer, respectively.  But when the 2013 Thoroughbred Awards Dinner takes place on December 5 at Newlands Golf & Country Club, Todd and Taylor will be giving the applause instead of receiving it.

Naudia and Mark Mache along with partners Jackie and Horatio Kemeny of Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. cheered home 30 wins in 112 starts to sweep the Leading Owners award.  They had 15 second-place finishes and 15 thirds in accumulating $531,065 in earnings, almost double the amount of second-place finisher Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd.

Perhaps the happiest guy on the grounds on closing day was veteran trainer Craig MacPherson.  He finished in top spot in the Leading Trainers category with 34 wins, 34 seconds and 31 thirds in 156 starts and $579,541 in earnings. “It’s always a thrill to be No. 1 in your profession,” MacPherson, winner of four stakes, says.  “We had a busy but productive season.  It was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun.”

Troy Taylor and Dino Condilenios were not far behind MacPherson with 30 wins each.

“A great crowd and lively handle on Thanksgiving Day was the perfect way to finish off the season,” said Hastings Racecourse Interim General Manager Darren MacDonald.  “We owe a sincere thank you to the fans for supporting us this year and look forward to bigger and better things in 2014.”